FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- You may start seeing more local microbreweries open their doors in the area this year. The zoning laws were approved by city leaders earlier this week on Tuesday (Feb. 2).
Microbreweries are now allowed in all areas of Fort Smith. This means business owners that want to open one up can do so anywhere within the city limits.
The Board of Directors approved C - 4 and C - 6 zoning areas at Tuesday night's meeting. Before Tuesday, city leaders had only approved the C - 6 zoning area, which includes downtown Fort Smith. With the new approval, the zones now cover the entire city of Fort Smith, including Chaffee Crossing.
This all started back in May of last year when entrepreneurs proposed the microbrewery idea to city Fort Smith leaders. At that time, the zoning laws wouldn't let them open a brewery at the busy locations they were interested in within the city.
Over time a petition was created and city leaders thought it over. They decided how this could bring new and fresh economic development into the area. That's exactly what entrepreneur Quenten Willard thinks will happen with microbreweries coming into the area.
"Microbreweries are a way to educate people on appropriate uses of alcohol and limiting yourself with alcohol," said Willard. "There are so many rules. We can only serve so much beer on the premises, so that's part of it. But more than anything our atmosphere is a big part of our business. We want it to be a casual place."
Willard is wanting to open up a microbrewery in Chaffee Crossing called Fort Smith Brewing Company. He said it's expected to open by the end of this summer.